Water toy



Sept. 29, 1959 s. M. MERICKEL ETAL WATER TOY Filed Oct. 24, 1957 lINVENTOR.

GEoRqE M. MERICKEL,DONHLDH.BUCKHOUT)JR 30 AND RICHRD R. MOSER.

QTTORNEY United States Patent WATER TOY George M. Merickel and Donald H.Bnckhout, In, Maumee, and Richard R. Moser, Perrysburg, Ohio ApplicationOctober 24, 1957, Serial .No. 692,128

'1 Claims. c1. 27a-1 V The present invention relates generally toamusement devices, and more particularly to a novel water toy.

The novel toy of the present invention is particularly well adapted foruse at beaches and functions to support an operator above the water andmove him toward and away therefrom in the manner of a pendulum thusproviding an exhilarating and pleasing sensation of controlled flight.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a water toywhich operates on the pendulum principle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such awater toywhich is self righting and responsive to a shift in weight of theoperator.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a water toy which isadjustable so asto control the degree of pendulum action and also tocompensate for a difference in weight between various operators.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become moreapparentduring the course of the following description, when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the same:

Fig. l is a schematic view of the novel water toy of the presentinvention showing its mode of usage;

Fig. 2 is an elevation view partly in section of the water toy;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;and

Fig. 6 is a partial elevation View illustrating a modification of theinvention.

With reference now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. l, the watertoy of the present invention floats partially submerged in the water andcomprises a hollow rounded base member 10 having a climbing mast 11secured thereto and an operating platform 12 carried at the uppermostend of the mast. Due to the novel construction of the toy and the mannerin which the same is balanced and ballasted, an operator when standingon the platform .12 may rock or rotate the base member within the waterto move the platform toward and away from the water in an arc ofswinging movement somewhat less than 180. Due to the construction of themast 11 and depending upon the amount of ballast, which may becontrolled, the length of the arc of swinging movement may be varied sothat the more timid, or children, will not be carried too close to thewater.

' As shown in Fig. 2, the hollow base member 10 is spherical in shapeand comprises upper and lower hemisphere or base portions 13 and 14respectively. A rounded or spherical construction is preferred becausethe water offers little resistance to the rotational movement thereofand thus the motion of the toy is relatively smooth.

Each of the base portions has an inwardly turned flange, 15 and 16respectively, and a plurality of spaced ribs 17 extending along theinner surface thereof and joining each flange at diametrically opposedportions. Carried between the respective flanges 15 and 16 and joined toeach is a dividing wall 18 of a somewhat lesser diameter than that ofthe basemember which separates the base member into an upper chamber 19and a lower water tight chamber 20. The chamber 20 is subdivided intoupper 0 and lower portions A and B respectively by a second dividingWall 21. Preferably, each of the base members 13 and 14 is formed of alaminate comprising a molded polyester resin reinforced with fiber glasscloth or mat having a finish which is compatible with the resin. Varioustypes of polyester resins may be used and sufficient catalyst is addedso that the base members need not be heated to cure the resin.

When each of the base portions as well as the dividing wall 18 is formedof resin reinforced with glass fiber cloth, the flanges 15 and 16 may bereadily fused to the dividing wall 18 by merely applying a coating ofuncured resin or a suitable solvent to each of the facing surfacesdividing walls 18 and 21 with a suitable opening beingand the wall 21may be similarly fused at the edge thereof to the base portion 14. Thesmall rectangular opening a between the outermost edge of the dividingwall and the outer surface of the base member may be readily filled withadditional resin to provide a smooth surface as well as additionallysealing the interior of the sphere against the entry of water.

To receive the mast 11, the upper base portion 13 has an opening 22formed therein centered on the vertical axis of the portion 13, andsimilar openings 23 and 24 are formed in the dividing walls 18 and 21.Aligned with the openings 22 to 24 and carried within the chamber 20, ismast support means generally indicated by the numeral 25 for receivingand supporting the lowermost end of the mast 11. The support means 25comprises a rectangular wooden base 26 treated with a waterproofingcompound and fused to the innermost surface of the lowermost baseportion 14 by means of resin or a suitable solvent. A pipe flange 27having internal threads formed therein is bolted to the base 26 and hasits axis aligned with the openings 22 to 24 and thus also with thecenter of gravity and vertical axis of the spherical base member 10.Surrounding the flange 27 is a conduit section 28 also preferably formedof fiber glass reinforced resin and having its uppermost end fused tothe dividing wall 18, its lowermost end to the base 26, and also beingfused to the dividing wall 21 thus providing a sealed water tightchamber 29 within which the lowermost mast is received.

In order to provide the pendulum like oscillating motion of the toy, itis necessary that the toy be weighted so that the center of gravitythereof is below its center of buoyancy. To admit water to the chamber20 for the purpose of weighting the toy, the sub chambers A and B asshown in Fig. 5, are each provided with recessed circular wall portions30 of increased thickness each of which is provided with a threadedopening 31 into which is inserted a conventional valve 32 which may beopened to admit water into the chambers A and B and closed to containthe water in the chambers.

To exhaust air from the chambers A and B, each of the dividing walls 18and 21 is provided with an air exhaust opening 33 located immediatelyadjacent the periphery thereof. As was the case with the recessed wallportions 30, opening 31 and valve 32, shown in Fig. 5, a similar.threaded opening 31 is provided in each of a pair of recessed wallportions 30 of increased thickness provided in the wall of the upperbase portion 13, and plastic air exhaust conduits 34 and 35 extendbetween the openings 31 and the openings 33 in the respective providedin the wall 18 for the conduit 35. The ends of the conduits are sealedwhere they join the respective wall portions and the conduit 35 is alsosealed to the Wall 18 where it passes therethrough thus preventing waterfrom leaking into the upper base portion 13. Conventionalvalves 32 arealso inserted in each of the openings 31 and are left open when the subchambers A and B are being filled with water and are closed when the subchambers are filled. Preferably, the conduits 34 and 35 have diametersof about A, inch whereas the openings 31 have a diameter of about 1inch. With this proportioning, the sub chambers A and B may be rapidlyfilled with water and yet there will be no appreciable surge of waterinto the conduits 34 and 35 which could impart an erratic movement tothe toy.

'As previously mentioned, an opening 22 is provided in the upper baseportion 13 through which the climbing inast 11 passes. A wooden plate 36having an opening 37 formed therein, which is aligned with the opening22, is fused to the innermost surface of the base portion 13 and anunthreaded pipe flange 38 is secured to the outermost surface of theportion 13 by screws extending through the portion 13 and seated in thewooden plate 36. The flange 38 is provided with a circular upstandingwall portion 39 having transversely aligned holes formed therein whichare diametrically opposed to one another for receiving a bolt 40 whichmay be passed through the holes in the Wall portion 39 and throughcorresponding matching holes in the mast 11 to secure the mast to thebase member To provide a means for reaching the mast 11 from the water,the outermost surface of the base member 10 is provided with a ladder 41comprising individual U shaped members 42 having flanges 43 which aresecured to the base members 13 and 14 by screws extending through thewall of the base members and seated in a wooden plate 44 fused to theinner surface of the base member.

As shown in Fig. 2, the mast 11 is multi-sectioned and comprises upperand lower pipe sections 45 and 46 respectively and an intermediatesection 47. The respective mast sections are of equal diameter and havethreaded ends which are joined to one another by couplings 48. Aspreviously mentioned, the mast section 46 is received within the flange27 which forms a portion of the mast support means 25 and thus the axisbf the mast passes through the center of gravity of the base member 10.This is desirable since it is preferred that the tov remainsubstantially upright when not being rocked. If the mast is offset, thetoy is still operable but the toy will not have an equilibrium positionwherein the mast is substantially vertical.

To enable an operator to climb the mast 11 and reach the operatingplatform 12, a plurality of spaced cross bars 49 are mounted on each ofthe mast sections and secured thereto by bolts 50. To secure theoperating platform 12 to the mast 11, a pipe flange 51 is carried at theuppermost end of the upper mast section 45 and a wooden plate 52 isbolted thereto which plate forms the support base of the platform. Asshown in Fig. 3, the plate 52 is semi-circular in shape and issurrounded by a circular rim 53 thus leaving an opening 54 therebetweenthrough which the operator may climb. Suitable spaced posts 55 extendupwardly from the rim 53 to be joined to one another by a secondcircular rim 56 of larger diameter whic. forms a hand rail for theoperatin platf rm 12.

As previously set forth, the length of the arc travelled by the workingplatform may be varied and the toy may be adjusted for the weight of theo erator. For example, if the toy is intended primarily for use withchildren, both sub chambers A and B may be filled with water and thelength of the mast 11 may be shortened bynot using the upper andintermediate pipe sections 45 and 57 and securing the operating platform12 to the lowermost pipe section 46. Such an arrangement providesmaximum weight in the base section and minimum arc of movement of theoperating platform as well as a minimum turning moment which is createdby the weight of the operator multiplied by the horizontal distance tothe center of the base member and which in turn affects the length ofthe arc of movement.

If desired, the toy can be operated so as to submerge the operatingplatform in water. If this is the case, all three mast sections are usedand the operator shifts his weight more rapidly thus increasing themomentum.

'As an illustration of suitable dimensions for the toy whichhave givenvery satisfactory results, the spherical base portion may be six feet indiameter, the chambers 19 and 20 of equal volume, and the length of themast from the top of the base member 10 to the bottom of the platform 12is fourteen feet. A toy having these dimensions may be rocked, by anaverage adult, until the platform touches the water.

The modified form of the invention shown in partial elevation in Fig. 6makes use of sand or similar material as ballast and is identical tothat shown in Fig. 2 except that the'base member 10 is of somewhatdifferent construction in that the upper dividing wall 18 has beenomitted as well as the various Water inlet openings, air exhaustopenings and air exhaust conduits.

T o admit sand into the lower chamber 20, a rectangular opening 57 isprovided in the base portion 13 adjacent the dividing wall 18, and asuitable rectangular flange 5 8 surrounds the opening 57. The flange 58preferably is formed of a resin glass laminate fused to the base portion13 and is provided with a bolted cover plate 59' which also may be aresin glass laminate.

It will be understood, of course, that the weight of a given volume ofsand is greater than that of a given volume of water and therefore lesssand ballast is necessary. Thus to have operating characteristicssimilar to that of the preferred embodiment of the invention when usinga base member diameter of six feet and a mast length of fourteen feet,the dividing wall 21 should be spaced downwardly about thirteen inchesfrom the center of the base member.

From the foregoing description it will be readily apparent that theconstruction of the novel water toy of the invention may be variedsomewhat depending upon the desired mode of operation, and it will beunderstood that various changes may be made in the shape, size andarrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the inventionor the scope of the subjoined claims.

We claim:

1. A rockable free floating water toy, comprising a hollow rounded basemember including upper and lower sections separated from one another bya dividing wall, said lower section being provided with a ballast inletopening and having a volume suflicient that when said lower section isfilled with ballast the center of gravity of the toy is below the centerof buoyancy thereof, said toy having its center of movement locatedwithin said base member, and a climbing mast carried by said base memberand having its axis substantially diametrically aligned with the centerof gravity of said base member, said climbing mast having one endthereof extending upwardly from said base member and an opposite endextending into said base member and mounted within said base member.

2. A rockable water toy as defined in claim 1, wherein the upper sectionof the base member and the dividing wall are provided with mastreceiving openings, and mast support means carried in the lower sectionof the base member and aligned with said mast receiving openings.

3. A rockable water toy as defined in claim 2, including a mastreceiving conduitextending between the opening in the dividing wall andthe mast support means and having the ends thereof sealed against theentryof ballast from said lower section.

.4. A free floating rockable water .toy, comprising a hollow roundedbase member including a lower ballast receiving portion having an inletopening for admitting water and an upper portion having an openingtherein, said ballast receiving portion having a volume of suchmagnitude that when filled with water the center of gravity of the toyis below the center of buoyancy, a dividing wall separating said upperand lower portions and also having an opening therein, an air exhaustconduit carried within the uppermost base portion and communicating withthe atmosphere through the opening therein and to the ballast receivingportion through the opening in said dividing wall, said conduit having asmaller cross-sectional area than said inlet opening, and a climbingmast carried by said base member and having its axis substantiallydiametrically aligned with the center of gravity thereof.

5. A free floating rockable water toy, comprising a hollow sphericalplastic base member, and a climbing mast carried by said base member andhaving its axis substantially passing through the center of gravity ofsaid base member, said base member comprising upper and lower hemisphereportions, said upper hemisphere portion having a pair of air exhaustopenings therein and said lower hemisphere having a pair of water inletopenings, a first dividing wall extending between said upper and lowerhemisphere portions and having an air exhaust opening therein andanother opening, a second dividing wall having an air exhaust openingtherein spaced downwardly from said first dividing wall and locatedbetween the water inlet openings and extending between opposed portionsof said lower hemisphere portion and dividing said lower hemisphereportion into upper and lower ballast receiving chambers having a volumesufiicient that when filled with water the center of gravity of the toyis below the center of buoyancy, a first air exhaust conduit extendingbetween the air exhaust opening in said first dividing wall and an airexhaust opening in the upper hemisphere, and a second air exhaustconduit extending between the air exhaust opening in the second dividingwall and the other air exhaust opening in the upper hemisphere andpassing through the other opening in the first dividing wall, said airexhaust conduits having a smaller area than the water inlet openings.

6. A rockable water toy as defined in claim 1, wherein the base memberis provided with a ladder extending downwardly along the upper sectionof said base member toward the lower section of said base member and thewater when the toy is floating therein to enable an operator to mountsaid toy from the water.

7. A rockable floating water toy as defined in claim 1, wherein mastsupport means is carried by both the upper and the lower sections of thebase member, and a plurality of spaced reinforcing ribs carried inwardlyof the base member and secured to the innermost surface of said basemember. 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,377,486 Johnson May 10, 1921 1,865,095 Frei June 28, 1932 1,979,844Rouenville Nov. 6, 1934 1,982,913 Hansen Dec. 4, 1934 2,091,857 JaedickeAug. 31, 1937 2,838,022 Wilson June 10, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 275,553Italy June 26, 1930 54,631 Norway Nov. 12, 1934

